EN 60885-3:2015

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2015
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Electrical test methods for electric cables - Part 3: Test methods for partial discharge
measurements on lengths of extruded power cables
Elektrische Prüfverfahren für Starkstromkabel - Teil 3: Prüfverfahren zur
Teilentladungsmessung an Längen von extrudierten Kabeln
Méthodes d'essais électriques pour les câbles électriques - Partie 3: Méthodes d'essais
pour la mesure des décharges partielles sur des longueurs de câbles de puissance
extrudés
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60885-3:2015
ICS:
29.060.20 Kabli Cables
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 60885-3
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
May 2015
ICS 29.060.20 Supersedes EN 60885-3:2003
English Version
Electrical test methods for electric cables - Part 3: Test methods
for partial discharge measurements on lengths of extruded
power cables
(IEC 60885-3:2015)
Méthodes d'essais électriques pour les câbles électriques - Elektrische Prüfverfahren für Starkstromkabel - Teil 3:
Partie 3: Méthodes d'essais pour la mesure des décharges Prüfverfahren zur Teilentladungsmessung an Längen von
partielles sur des longueurs de câbles de puissance extrudierten Kabeln
extrudés (IEC 60885-3:2015)
(IEC 60885-3:2015)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2015-05-14. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2015 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 60885-3:2015 E
Foreword
The text of document 20/1560/FDIS, future IEC 60885-3, prepared by IEC/TC 20 "Electric cables" was
submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as EN 60885-3:2015.

The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2016-02-14
• latest date by which the document has to be
implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
(dow) 2018-05-14
• latest date by which the national
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 60885-3:2003.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60885-3:2015 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following note has to be added for the standard indicated:
IEC 60060-1 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60060-1.

- 3 - EN 60885-3:2015
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE 1 When an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant

EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year

IEC 60270 2000 High-voltage test techniques - Partial EN 60270 2001
discharge measurements
IEC 60885-3 ®
Edition 2.0 2015-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Electrical test methods for electric cables –

Part 3: Test methods for partial discharge measurements on lengths of extruded

power cables
Méthodes d'essais électriques pour les câbles électriques –

Partie 3: Méthodes d'essais pour la mesure des décharges partielles sur des

longueurs de câbles de puissance extrudés

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 29.060.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-2582-0

– 2 – IEC 60885-3:2015 © IEC 2015
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references. 6
3 Terms, definitions and symbols . 6
3.1 Terms and definitions . 6
3.2 Symbols used in Figures 1 to 14 . 6
4 Overview . 7
4.1 General . 7
4.2 Object . 7
4.3 Problem of superposition of travelling waves for long lengths . 7
5 Partial discharge tests . 10
5.1 Test apparatus . 10
5.1.1 Equipment . 10
5.1.2 Test circuit and instruments. 10
5.1.3 Double pulse generator . 10
5.1.4 Terminal impedance . 10
5.1.5 Reflection suppressor . 10
5.2 Setting up the test circuit . 10
5.2.1 Determination of characteristic properties of the test circuit . 10
5.2.2 Terminal impedance . 10
5.2.3 Determination of superposition of travelling waves . 11
5.2.4 Reflection suppressor . 11
5.2.5 Calibration of the measuring system in the complete test circuit . 11
5.2.6 Sensitivity . 11
5.3 Measurement procedures . 11
5.3.1 General . 11
5.3.2 Short cable lengths including type test lengths . 12
5.3.3 Long cable lengths tested without a terminal impedance . 12
5.3.4 Long cable lengths tested with a terminal impedance . 13
5.3.5 Long cable lengths tested with a reflection suppressor . 14
5.4 Voltage levels/partial discharge limits . 15
5.5 Double pulse behaviour and plotting the double pulse diagram . 15
5.6 Requirements for the terminal impedance . 16
5.6.1 General . 16
5.6.2 RC element . 16
5.6.3 RLC element series resonance circuit . 17
Bibliography . 21

Figure 1 – Discharge site exactly at the cable end remote from the detector (x = l) . 7
Figure 2 – Discharge site at a distance x = x – Travelling waves . 8
Figure 3 – Attenuation of PD pulses along the cable . 8
Figure 4 – Superposition and attenuation of PD pulses . 9
Figure 5 – Input unit Z connected in series with the coupling capacitor, C . 17
A K
Figure 6 – Input unit Z connected in series with the cable, C . 18
A x
Figure 7 – Bridge circuit . 18

IEC 60885-3:2015 © IEC 2015 – 3 –
Figure 8 – Connection of the terminal impedance Z . 18
w
Figure 9 – Connection of the reflection suppressor, RS . 19
Figure 10 – Connection of the double pulse generator into the measuring circuit in
Figure 5 . 19
Figure 11 – Double pulse diagram type 1 without negative superposition . 19
Figure 12 – Double pulse diagram type 2 with negative superposition between t and t . 20
1 2
Figure 13 – Double pulse diagram type 3 with negative and positive superpositions
between t and t . 20
1 2
Figure 14 – Connection of the double pulse generator for the test circuit in Figure 9
with the reflection suppressor . 20

– 4 – IEC 60885-3:2015 © IEC 2015
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ELECTRICAL TEST METHODS FOR ELECTRIC CABLES –

Part 3: Test methods for partial discharge measurements
on lengths of extruded power cables

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60885-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 20:
Electric cables.
This second edition of IEC 60885-3 cancels and replaces the first edition, published in 1988
and constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
• The definition of sensitivity as twice the background noise level has been removed and
replaced by a practical assessment of sensitivity based on the minimum level of
detectable discharge.
• References to measurements of pulse heights in mm on an oscilloscope have been
replaced by measurements of partial discharge magnitude in pC.

IEC 60885-3:2015 © IEC 2015 – 5 –
• The order of the clauses has been revised in line with the general numbering scheme of
IEC standards and to provide clarity in order to facilitate its practical use. Section 3 of the
first edition (Application guide) has been removed as it is considered that background
information is better obtained from the original references as listed in the bibliography.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
20/1560/FDIS 20/1587/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts in the IEC 60885 series, published under the general title Electrical test
methods for electric cables, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
– 6 – IEC 60885-3:2015 © IEC 2015
ELECTRICAL TEST METHODS FOR ELECTRIC CABLES –

Part 3: Test methods for partial discharge measurements
on lengths of extruded power cables

1 Scope
This part of IEC 60885 specifies the test methods for partial discharge (PD) measurements on
lengths of extruded power cable, but does not include measurements made on installed cable
systems.
Reference is made to IEC 60270 which gives the techniques and considerations applicable to
partial discharge measurements in general.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60270:2000, High-voltage test techniques – Partial discharge measurements
3 Terms, definitions and symbols
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60270 apply.
3.2 Symbols used in Figures 1 to 14
a discharge magnitude measured with the calibrator at the end near to the detector
a discharge magnitude measured with the calibrator at the end remote from the detector
Ccal calibrator
CK coupling capacitor
Cx power cable
D detector
I double pulse generator
l length of the power cable
M coaxial signal cable
Q discharge magnitude
R1R2 matching resistors
RS reflection suppressor
v propagation velocity of partial discharge
V voltage indicator
W power supply
IEC 60885-3:2015 © IEC 2015 – 7 –
Z impedance/filter
Z input unit
A
Z terminal impedance
W
4 Overview
4.1 General
Partial discharge measurements shall be carried out using the test techniques specified in
IEC 60270.
4.2 Object
The object of the test is to determine the discharge magnitude, or to check that the discharge
magnitude does not exceed a specified value, at a specified voltage and a declared minimum
sensitivity.
4.3 Problem of superposition of travelling waves for long lengths
Short lengths of cable behave in the same way as a single capacitor in that the discharge
magnitude can be measured directly by considering the cable as a single capacitor. However
longer cables behave like a transmission line and PD pulses travel away from their source in
both directions along the cable, in the form of a wave. On reaching the remote end from the
measuring equipment, the pulse will be reflected with the same polarity if the end is open
circuit. The reflected pulse will then travel back along the length of cable and arrive at the
detector at a time after the directly received pulse. If the time between the arrival of the two
pulses is short (the time difference depending on the length of the cable) then the detection
instrument may give a false response, indicating either a larger or smaller magnitude of
discharge than was actually the case. The methods detailed in this standard allow correct
measurement of partial discharges under these conditions.
Figures 1 to 4 illustrate the behaviour of travelling waves and possible superposition effects.
Q
V
C
K
Void
x
x = l
D Z
A
IEC
Figure 1 – Discharge site exactly at the cable end remote from the detector (x = l)

– 8 – IEC 60885-3:2015 © IEC 2015
a) at the time of the discharge V V
Q/2 Q/2
C
K
Void
l – x
x
x = x
x = l
Z
D
A
t = 2 (l – x )/V
V V
b) after reflection
Q/2 Q/2
C
K
Void
x = x
D
Z
A
IEC
Figure 2 – Discharge site at a distance x = x – Travelling waves
2,0
1,5
a (x = 0)
a (x = l)
1,0
0,8
0,6
0,5a
0,4
= end open
= end with characteristic impedance
0,2
0,1
x  (m)
2 000
0 500 1 000 1 500
x = 0 x = l
IEC
Figure 3 – Attenuation of PD pulses along the cable
Relative response
IEC 60885-3:2015 © IEC 2015 – 9 –
a)
2,0
Positive superposition
1,5
(i) < 30%
a
1,0a
1,0
0,8
0,7a
0,6
0,5a
0,4
= end open
= end with characteristic impedance
0,2
0,1
x  (m)
0 500 1 000 1 500 2 000
l = 440 m
k
b)
l = 640 m
2,0
1,5
Positive superposition
1,0
(i) < 30%
1,0a
0,8
0,6
0,7a
0,5a
0,4 2
Negative superposition
= end open
0,2
= end with characteristic impedance
0,1
x  (m)
2 000
0 500 1 000 1 500
l = 190 m
k
l = 220 m
l = 600 m
IEC
Figure 4 – Superposition and attenuation of PD pulses
Relative response
Relative response
– 10 – IEC 60885-3:2015 © IEC 2015
5 Partial discharge tests
5.1 Test apparatus
5.1.1 Equipment
The equipment consists of a high-voltage alternating voltage supply having a rating adequate
to energise the length of cable under test, a voltmeter for high voltages, a measuring circuit, a
discharge calibrator, a double pulse generator and, where applicable, a terminal impedance or
reflection suppressor. All components of the test equipment shall have a sufficiently low noise
level to achieve the required sensitivity. The frequency of the test supply shall be in the range
45 Hz to 65 Hz with a waveshape approximating to a sinusoid with the ratio of peak to r.m.s.
values being equal to √2 with a maximum tolerance of 5 %.
5.1.2 Test circuit and instruments
The test circuit includes the high voltage power supply, test object, the coupling capacitor and
the HV and PD measuring equipment. The measuring circuit consists of the measuring
impedance (input impedance of the measuring instrument and the input unit which is selected
to match the cable impedance), the connecting lead and the measuring instrument. The
measuring instrument or detector includes a suitable amplifying
...